Wizz Air struggles to recover amid ongoing engine failures
Engine malfunctions are causing major disruptions at Wizz Air, with the airline racing to restore its fleet through accelerated repairs.
Malfunctions in GTF engines
Wizz Air’s fleet has faced serious trouble in recent years. Since 2023, it has been known that Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, used in Airbus A320neo aircraft, suffer from a material defect called “metal powder contamination,” which can lead to severe engine failures. As a result, the airline has already had to ground 37 aircraft by summer 2025.
Back in June, the airline announced a 61.7% drop in operating profit for the 2025 fiscal year, largely due to the issues with Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines. These problems have forced nearly 20% of the airline’s fleet out of service.
“Wizz Air and Pratt & Whitney are in advanced talks to expedite engine repairs for the GTF units,” CEO József Váradi told Reuters.
The goal of the negotiations is to return grounded aircraft to service as quickly as possible. Previous repairs could take up to 300 days, severely impacting operations. A fast-tracked repair program has therefore become crucial for Wizz Air. The talks also coincide with the new engine procurement initiative announced in June, with the aim of finalizing an agreement by November 13.
What’s causing the malfunction?
The issue affecting the airline’s Airbus A320neo planes stems from metal powder defects in the turbine disks and compressor blades of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Anomalies in materials used during manufacturing cause these critical engine parts to wear faster, which can lead to serious failures. Although this problem affects all airlines operating the A320neo, it’s especially critical for Wizz Air, given the large share of its fleet powered by these engines.
As a result of the failures, Wizz Air has been forced to ground some aircraft for months, which severely impacted its schedule, capacity, and financial performance.
Summer operations and schedule stability at Wizz Air
In an interview with Pénzcentrum, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi described the summer of 2025 as “incomparable” to the turbulence of 2024, which had been marked by flight cancellations, airport chaos, and closures.
“We made it through the summer with almost no flight cancellations, which is rare,” Váradi said, noting that the airline deliberately built redundancy into operations. Additional aircraft, pilots, and cabin crew were kept on standby, and spare parts stockpiled, leading to improved schedule reliability and fewer disruptions.
Fleet recovery and schedule stabilisation a top priority
Following successful summer operations, Wizz Air is now focused on mitigating the disruptions caused by engine malfunctions and fully restoring its fleet. The ongoing negotiations with Pratt & Whitney aim to speed up necessary repairs and get planes back in the air faster.
At the same time, Wizz Air has strategically shifted its focus: As of September 1, the airline shut down its Middle East subsidiary and canceled several routes to the Emirates, concentrating instead on Eastern and Central Europe. For the 2025/26 winter schedule, various routes from Budapest and Debrecen will be adjusted or temporarily suspended. Three popular destinations—Girona, Liverpool, and Glasgow—have been removed from the flight roster entirely, while others like Tirana, Wroclaw, and Genoa will see only seasonal pauses.
These changes are driven by fluctuating seasonal demand and efforts to optimise operating costs. While some passengers may face inconvenience, Wizz Air’s ultimate goal is to stabilize its fleet and schedule and ensure long-term sustainability of its services.
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